In claiming outfielder/first baseman Chris Shaw on waivers last week, the Orioles perhaps made the more interesting move in whom they elected to remove from their 40-man roster to create space.
Right-hander Thomas Eshelman, an effective swingman for Baltimore in 2020, was designated for assignment to open a spot for Shaw, whose power has yet to translate from the minors to the majors. But when the Orioles needed a 40-man opening a week earlier, they ejected a player who had already had some success, designating for assignment Renato Núñez, their leader in home runs over the past two seasons, to protect six prospects from the Rule 5 draft.